A new study commissioned by the Interior Ministry has suggested that the
neo-Nazi movement in the Czech Republic (estimated as 4,000 strong with 400
hardcore members) is successfully pushing an agenda of hatred and racism in
troubled parts of the country. As it stands, the last decade or so saw a
number of arson attacks against ethnic Roma families including a
highly-publicised case where a toddler barely survived and was left with
lifelong disabilities. According to the latest report, unless more
comprehensive measures are taken soon, racially-motivated attacks spurred
by the neo-Nazi movement, may increase.

I spoke to political analyst Miroslav Mareš who headed the project.

“Regarding neo-Nazism, the situation is fairly stable but what we are
seeing is the rise of ‘usual’ racism: in socially-troubled areas we can
see the involvement of the regular population in anti-Roma demonstrations
and the neo-Nazis are the ‘drivers’ of anti-Roma activities and
prejudices. Of course, there are a lot of problems regarding the issue but
we can now hear racist statements from local politicians from non-extremist
parties. And some extremists have said ‘Look, they are drawing from our
traditional programme’.”

Neo-Nazis, then, are increasingly successful in pushing their agenda?

“I think that they are and now they are active in public demonstrations.
At last year’s May 1 rally in Brno they were present along with members
of the far-right Workers Party of Social Justice. That is what has been
happening.”

You have just gotten back from a conference on extremism in Brussels: is
the rise of the Right, so to speak, a pan-European problem?

“It is. You can see various kinds of extremism from country to country.
There is the extremism of established political parties or far-right
parties such as in Hungary, on the other hand you can also see rising
militancy including the rising phenomenon or danger of extremist terrorism.
Last year in Norway there was the terrible attack by Anders Breivik, there
is the National Socialist Underground in Germany, neo-Nazis in Russia or
the group Death Squad in Hungary in 2009. I think that the rising extremist
scene is a threat also in terms of political violence and terrorism.”

One of the findings in the new study is that there could be increased
attacks against the Roma in the Czech Republic in the next five years.
Obviously that is a threat needs to be taken seriously.

“This is the most important profile field regarding right-wing
extremism. Because some traditional parties now use anti-Roma rhetoric it
could be the backdrop for more militant activities by neo-Nazis. Molotov
cocktail attacks are cheap but also ‘effective’.”

What are some comprehensive steps the government should take?

“This is probably the most important conclusion of the study: to take
steps towards prevention of the dissemination of extremist ideas among
today’s youth. Repressive mechanisms already exist and work in the Czech
Republic but I would say is a bigger problem is the lack of prevention
programmes at primary and secondary schools.”